It is the most coveted of chart positions and it has long been most artists’ wish to reach the top of the charts at Christmas. Let’s take a look at number ones of Christmas past as well as looking ahead to what we can expect this Christmas present and in the Christmases future that are yet to come!

Traditionally, the festive period saw a huge peak in sales prompting many acts to release a record at that time of year. Since 1952 there have been 63 Christmas number ones but only 12 have been festive songs or had some connection to Christmas. It wasn't until 1973 when Slade deliberately released, what many believe to be, the first attempt to reach number one at Christmas with a festive track. We'll look at that song in more detail later in the article but for now let's start our journey of Christmas chart toppers in the 1950s.

1950s

The Official UK Chart began in 1952. The first record to top the charts was 'Here In My Heart' by Al Martino. It did so on the 15th of November and remained there for nine weeks making it also the first UK Christmas number one. Despite the popularity of Rock & Roll music it was the Easy Listening classics that dominated the top of the festive chart in this decade. Conway Twitty, Johnnie Ray and Frankie Laine all did what Bill Haley & his Comets couldn't!